Israeli negotiator says peace talks are in crisis

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's chief negotiator in peace talks with the Palestinians says the talks are in "crisis" but must continue.

Tzipi Livni spoke to Channel 2 TV on Saturday after a week that saw the U.S.-brokered negotiations flounder.

Livni said "this is a real crisis" that is "very complicated." However, she said talks must continue in the hope they will yield a peace agreement. She also said the Palestinian president and Israeli prime minister should talk directly.

Israel didn't release a planned batch of Palestinian prisoners on time. The Palestinians then signed letters seeking Palestine's accession to international conventions, which it had promised not to do during talks. Israel later responded by saying it would not release the prisoners.

The moves further complicated mediation efforts by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.